Thinking about a P7M8...

Since they are no longer in production I figure that now is a good time to pick one up. To those that have one, what are the pros and cons of this pistol, and what is a reasonable price for one of these new. And most importantly, lets see some pics.

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Chipperman

November 3, 2005, 04:47 PM

Do a search here, and you will find loads of info. I have an M8 and two M13's. They are not for everyone, but those who love them are rabid fans. Check out The Cult if you have not already. (parkcitiestactical.com).
The biggest Con is the price tag, but for me (and others) the Pros far outweigh the cost.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/Chipperman/HKhandguns.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/Chipperman/Holsters.jpg

They are getting difficult to find now, so you would do well to get one NIB for $1200. Check out gunbroker.com and you will see that most are going for more than that. If you really want one, get one soon. The price will only get higher.

Pilot

November 3, 2005, 06:55 PM

I have a P7M8 and a P7 PSP which came in with the German police (BMI) imports a while ago. I use the PSP for carry and really like the slimness. Also, they are just plain accurate, soft shooting 9MM's. Very little muzzle flip, and just a joy to shoot. The only downside for me is that they are heavy for their capacity, but with a good holster that is resolved. You still may be able to get a used PSP for a good price.

BlkHawk73

November 3, 2005, 08:14 PM

Wanted an M8 since I first saw one back years ago. Took me 9 yrs to finally commit and buy one. I wasted those years by not acting sooner. It's simply an awesome gun. Pricey yes, but you're getting an elite model with some amazing German engineering behind it. Besides, you get what you pay for. Expect to pay a minimum of $1000 even used. Don't confuse the different models either. I'd say learning the different manual of arms could possibly be the only "con" but that even dissappears shorty as these are just so natural to use.

Wags

November 3, 2005, 08:29 PM

I've never shot nor let alone held a P7M8, but I'll own one some day. Something about the look that I like and it won't let me go. JMB is going to put Satan on my back after saying that since I'm a BHP and 1911 owner!

wally

November 3, 2005, 09:39 PM

Major con to me is price of magazines if you can find them $50+ for M8 and $100+ for M13. Luckily my M13 came with three 13-round magazines.

--wally.

YK

November 3, 2005, 09:57 PM

The biggest con to me is overheating. This makes P7 to be a suboptimal choice for high-volume rapid fire practice, unless you shoot with gloves. Or have more than one P7...Other than that, it's one awesome and unique firearm.

Custard

November 4, 2005, 02:13 AM

The biggest con to me is overheating.

What he said. I still think the P7M8 is the best carry gun ever made but it is painfull to shoot a lot. You can get second degree burns from the frame as it heats up.

I still love mine and don't intend to sell it (or its 12 magazines :neener: ) but I just bought a XD40 to shoot. I generally shoot a couple hundred rounds on a range trip and with the P7 I have to let it rest for a while after I finish loading.

Dan

Lone_Gunman

November 4, 2005, 02:40 AM

The biggest con to me is overheating.

Shoot any gun rapidly, and it is going to get hot.

For self-defense uses, over-heating is a complete non-issue.

mete

November 4, 2005, 04:40 AM

The heat is apparently how you hold it. I never had a problem with heat and that includes many IPSC matches.

Coronach

November 4, 2005, 05:05 AM

Shoot any gun rapidly, and it is going to get hot.Yes, but not like the P7 does. It uses a gas system, and the gas tube runs right above your trigger finger. It can and does get uncomfortable to shoot for prolonged courses of fire.

I do, however, agree with you about it being a non-issue for self-defense. If you are in a self-defense situation and you get it that hot, you need to consider a new place to live. ;)

It can make practice tedious, though.

Mike

caz223

November 4, 2005, 07:44 AM

Love the slide release and the grip design.
That is prolly one of the best engineered 9mm guns out there.

wardog

November 4, 2005, 08:15 AM

I want one too. I better do it pretty soon.

CDNN is advertising them for $1215

www.cdnninvestments.com

waterhouse

November 4, 2005, 08:48 AM

I've got a couple of the older PSPs and one of the p7m8s. Great guns. The solution to them getting too hot when you put a lot of rounds downrange is to buy several of them. Usually my first one has cooled off by the time I finish shooting the last one.

Pilot

November 4, 2005, 09:20 AM

Expect to pay a minimum of $1000 even used.

I'm still seeing the BMI P7 PSP's for $700 - $800. Great deal. There's one on Gunsamerica for $670 right now.

Pilot

November 4, 2005, 12:32 PM

I do, however, agree with you about it being a non-issue for self-defense. If you are in a self-defense situation and you get it that hot, you need to consider a new place to live. ;)

It can make practice tedious, though.

Tedious? I can put about a box and a half (70 round or so) pretty rapidly though my P7 before it gets hot. Most of us have more than one pistol, so I just shoot another one for a few minutes, sometimes my other P7, but mostly other guns that I typically use. If you only have a P7, put it down for five minutes, then shoot again.

cslinger

November 4, 2005, 12:51 PM

My P7M8 or 13 does not get any hotter then any of my snubby revolvers under sustained fire.

I love my P7s.

http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/062164.JPG

Coronach

November 4, 2005, 04:21 PM

If you only have a P7, put it down for five minutes, then shoot again.But, I don't want to put it down. I want to shoot more, right now!

FWIW, I agree with you, which is why I said "tedious" instead of "a PITA" or "impractical". The heat issue is certainly no reason to not buy the gun. It's just the one thing that comes to the fore as being less than ideal. And that, actually, is a pretty strong endorsement of the whole design.

Mike

Kestrel

November 4, 2005, 04:54 PM

The P7 is one of the easiest pistols to shoot well. It points naturally and is fast handling.

It does have a few quirks, but it is a superb pistol.

Slim and easy to conceal. Accurate, fast to get into action and very reliable.

Steve

STAGE 2

November 4, 2005, 04:59 PM

Thanks for the replies guys... one more question. Whats the difference between a p7m8 and a psp?

Pilot

November 4, 2005, 05:15 PM

Thanks for the replies guys... one more question. Whats the difference between a p7m8 and a psp?

The P7M8 has the mag release where most other pistols have it, at the bottom of the trigger guard where it meets thre grips. It has a longer trigger guard and a plastic heat shield where your finger would touch the receiver. The P7 PSP is more like the original P7. It has its magazine release in the heal of the grip and shorter trigger guard, no heat shield. The P7 PSP is slightly slimmer than the P7M8 and can not have inadvertent mag releases due ot the location of the mag release at the heal.

Both are excellent choices, but right now you can usually find better deals on the German police trade-in PSP.

Chipperman

November 4, 2005, 05:44 PM

The M8 allows faster reloads. The perceived disadvantage is accidental mag release, but this simply does not happen with a proper holster.

The P7/PSP can be found for less money, but IMO the M8 is worth the extra $$.

BlkHawk73

November 4, 2005, 06:29 PM

I'm still seeing the BMI P7 PSP's for $700 - $800. Great deal. There's one on Gunsamerica for $670 right now.

Two different models though. There's a TON of refurbed and trade-in P7s out there for far less than the P7M8 models. To some it's not a big deal which model they have, from a defensive usabilty satndpint, the P7M8 has the benefit of an "American" style mad release rather than the European style heel release.

AnthonyRSS

November 4, 2005, 11:21 PM

I don't think I've ever seen one of these in person. What is so great/unusual about this gun? I heard Ayoob used one as a loaner gun at LFI? that went a half gazillion rounds without a malfunction without cleaning...
I want one though.

YK

November 5, 2005, 12:49 AM

To me, the great thing is that it has all/does all what I look for in the gun.

First of all, it is very reliable, mine has seen exactly 3999 rounds to the date, zero malfunctions. I don't know about "without cleaning", most folks recommend, at the minimum, to keep the gas chamber and the piston clean.

The ergonomics are great, no sharp edges, points very naturally, the axis is low. It is quite narrow and compact aiding in concealment, yet it has 4" bbl. The sight picture is excellent, the sights themselves are very sturdy and factory-predrilled for inserts.

Trigger is nice, trigger pull is light but not too light and consistent; mine at @ 4 lbs.

The gun is dead-on accurate. Many credit it to fixed polygonally rifled bbl. It is all-steel and very soft to shoot.

Reloads are very fast owing to squeezer design; most P7 owners quiety smile when they hear "hit the slide stop vs. over-the-top" arguments.

Firing pin assembly is removable essentially with bare hands in 30 seconds. Very convenient if you need to child-proof the gun.

And all of that - right out of the box.

There are probably more good things about P7 series, I hope others will chime in.

X Who

November 5, 2005, 01:18 AM

The pivoting front strap of the grip controls the squeeze cocking mechanism. Squeezing it cocks the P7, releasing uncocks and renders the P7 safe. If the slide is locked back squeezing releases the slide. To recock: release and squeeze again (something to try if the round doesn't go off the first strike).

BTW, the P7 is a gas retarded blowback action. The slide has a piston that enters a cylinder under the barrell. Vented gas enters that cylinder and keeps the action closed long enough.

Never, ever fire Nyclad ammo in a P7 (the chamber is fluted and the nylon stuff packs into the flutes. Ruined a 44 caliber bore brush cleaning that stuff out). Since that first box, I've never fired anything but jacketed ammo in my P7. I can't remember any jams after that one box of Nyclad.

Mags weren't cheap even back then, but I have 4.

10-Ring

November 6, 2005, 02:41 AM

Downside...get hot way too quickly & cost of membership is STEEP! Other than that, nothing else on the planet compares to the HK P7 line up ;)

HKGuns

November 7, 2005, 12:43 AM

Run out and buy one. I love mine and will never sell it. It is a perfect carry pistol, thin and small. It is also very safe and easy to operate. The only drawback I can think of is they are sensitive to dirty ammo. The gas system tends to foul up and restricts the operation of the slide after a couple hundred rounds of dirty ammo at the range. This isn't an issue for personal defense though.

http://www.pbase.com/shoudek/image/40728216.jpg

Molly

November 9, 2005, 10:43 PM

Actually, it just says P7 on the gun, but the manual says P7 PSP.

http://i.pbase.com/u23/hmeyne/large/10730799.P7260030L.jpg

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